2007 Tour de Taipei Pictures

March 24th 2007 Tour de Taipei - a bit of a Kick Off for the International Cycling Show.

Final 5 guys (field sprinters) had two laps to complete once the race was called early because they caught up to the main pack (peloton).

Playing Dodge'm While Running in Taipei

How I See Running in Taipei:

1. Running alone seems safer. Unless you are a early riser and like to run when the sun rises at 4:30 or 5:00am. The roads are pretty free at those hours. I run at night after work, there is no room for a group of people to run.
2. Run with traffic. I've been taught and read to run against traffic. That does not always work here. Running with traffic can be a bit scary, because you don't know what the traffic is doing behind you. Plus, in Taipei there are countless scooter riders trying to position themselves for just the right maneuver. Taxi's and other cars are always trying to bet you to the intersection so they can turn before you run into them. In this case you also have to worry about buses. Buses will push against any grain to reach a bus stop. If you run against traffic the bus drivers seem to watch out for you.
3. Run against traffic. I like this method the best, but it has its downfalls as well. Expect your elbow to be hit by car and scooter mirrors. It will happen, even if you do your best to get out of the way. One huge thing to remember: watch to your left at all times. The drivers will very rarely look in your direction when pulling out and will pull out first before seeing if it is actually safe to pull out. So, expect a vehicle of some sort traveling 20-30kph coming from a sidewalk, small road or large intersection. By the way turning right on red is illegal, but only when police are around - so always keep those eyes open.
4. Crosswalks. They call crosswalks zebra strips here, but don't kid yourself that it is a safe area. The government has been advertising to let people pass first, but let's not kid ourselves. Vehicles will push you out of the way if they have to. It has been my experience: You are more likely to be hit while on the zebra stripe (crosswalk) then if you are in the middle of the road somewhere (anywhere).
5. Parks. The parks are okay here, but they are all hard paved. I miss the gravel and soft running/biking routes commonly found in other cities. I've yet to find a good running path.
6. Mountain. My favorite run is running up the mountain. The view and environment is great and there are less cars. You can easily run an hour or more and just keep heading up hill. The downhill is what kills ya. It can be fast and pounding on you. If you have been only running on the flats the hills/mountains will kill you. Take it easy at first. If you run it regularly you can see improvement in your distance and time month after month. Now there are many hiking paths in the mountain, but not really meant for running.
7. Sidewalks. Stay off the sidewalks unless you really are a thrill seeker. You will get hurt if you attempt to run on the sidewalks. First off scooters park on the sidewalk. So, the sidewalk is like a road for scooters and they rule the sidewalk. The sidewalks here have dips and drops (sometimes a foot or more) and if you are not watching closely you will take a tumble. The sidewalks have horrible potholes and if you run at night you will not see them in the poorly lit sidewalks. Expect a sprained ankle, expect an over extended exhaust pipe to rip open your shin, expect a women to poke you in the head with their umbrella (even when there is no rain or sunshine and the moon is out - go figure), don't expect people to move for you even if you call out. Run on the road and you will be 100% safer.
8. Don't take up room. Don't try and make room for yourself by running an extra foot away from the side of the road. You would think by trying to make a buffer it would help. It will not. It will only make things worse. Drivers will try to push you back and scooter drivers will only see a possible opportunity to pass you on both sides.
9. Bridges. I enjoy running on the newly lit bridges that surround the city. They all have a good pedestrian area and some even have soft padding. The wind, rush of the cars and a city skyline help push the pace.
10. Run outside Taipei. If you can take your scooter or public transportation outside the city and run. There are many beautiful and great parks outside Taipei. Go run by the ocean. I don't get the chance to do this often, but some of my best runs were in cities down south when I was traveling.

I was an active little fellow before I moved to Taiwan. However, during my first 4 years here I was pretty busy with my job. I let the city life consume me. I walked a lot, but that was about it. A year and a half ago during my physical the doctor said I was obese. I was stunned not by the word, but that I have let myself get out of control. But even then it took another six months for the realization to actually sink in. I knew what had to be done. Heck, I started dieting when I was in the 3rd grade to make wrestling weight (year round) and I ran cross country for 4 years in high school. When I graduated high school I was weighing in at 126lbs. Suddenly it seems I was encroaching 170lbs (at 5'10" a BMI of 24-25). Time for action.

Pat Richie, Walsh Jesuit Cross Country Coach, had a party of some sort. I received the invitation late (being my mail is forwarded to Taipei), but it put in my mind the dedication and work ethic I need to now bring back in to my life. And now with a yellow parched invitation letter in my hand I decide running is what I will do to lose my weight. (By the way 20+years late, Coach Richie - Thanks).

I go out and get shorts, running shirt and shoes (Mizuno's). I start my running regiment by following a "Couch to 5K" program I found. It was just what I needed to get started. I followed it to the letter (used time not distance). Today... 8 months have passed and I run every other day. I run in the rain, cold and hot humid Taiwan heat. Plus thanks to the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association (CTRRA) for a decent website to keep me posted on running events. These events are what keep me pushing and striving for, well, a free t-shirt.

Running in Taipei, Taiwan is not easy feat. I applaud everyone here that can keep their spirits up while running in this busy city. I live just north of the city in area called NeiHu and luckily enough my back yard is a mountain. But even so the city is here.

Be careful if you run in Taipei, but don't let the traffic stop you. See you all at the races.
Check out Taipei Marathon.net for some pictures and videos, it is in Chinese, but scroll down or click around.

Tour de Taiwan 2007 - horrible promotion

I am very disappointed in Taiwan and their lack of information and support for the Tour de Taiwan 2007. It appears the race is secondary to the Taipei Int'l Cycle Show 2007. But then again I guess the show brings in the money.

Trying to find out start times and the race course on the web has provided me with a empty feeling. I can find a post here and there on the results and the teams participating, but trying to get past basic information has left me disillusioned.

As a category 2.2 (Asia Circuit) I am surprised finding information has been so difficult.

Stages
18/03/07 - Stage 1 - Criterium Kaohsiung - 88 km (40 laps)
19/03/07 - Stage 2 - Pingdong Circuit - 113.6 km (8 laps)
20/03/07 - Stage 3 - Chiayi Circuit - 131.5 km
21/03/07 - Stage 4 - Changhua Circuit - 117.4 km
22/03/07 - Stage 5 - Taichung City Criterium - 99 km (15 laps)
23/03/07 - Stage 6 - Chang Hua-Taipei Bali - 188.9 km
24/03/07 - Stage 7 - Criterium Municipal Gov. Taipei - 60 km (60 laps)

You can go to Cyclingnews.com and get information, but even here the links for 2007 go to the 2006 Tour de Taiwan page. It seems people just don't want you to view the event.

Teams Include: Health Net by Maxxis, Merida Europe, Giant Asian Racing, Drapac Porsche, Team Skil-Shimano, Continental Cycling Team Differdange, Team PZ Racing, Aisan Racing Team, Team Okinawa, Uijeongbu City Cycling, Hong Kong Team, Malaysian National Team, Thai National Team, Polygon Sweet Nice Team, Vietnam National Road Team, Chinese Taipei CKT, Taichung County Cycling Team, Taiwan Kinan CCD and e-MA Team.

With all these international teams you would think you could find a site with a map, English information or more news coverage.

Check out Chrischang's photos on Flickr.
You can check out CTCA if you can read Chinese. Even here items seem to be outdated.

Cycle Show 2007 information galore.

Mizuno Nike New Balance and Triathlon

Just purchased a pair of Mizuno Wave Aero 5 shoes for training. In Taipei they are going for half the price you can buy them in Japan. So, I got them at under US$50. I was a bit surprised. When I went to the store I was going to buy a pair of Ascis Gel-Kayano 13, but they wanted more money then I had to spend. However, you can get a much better price on them here in Taipei than in the USA (US$100 to 115 price range). Funny thing is I originally went to get shoes at New Balance. My whole purpose of going shopping was to buy New Balance shoes (1061, 901 or 1222). I researched New Balance on the web for a a bit to pick the shoes I wanted to try. I get to the store and they only had wide shoes. I went to a New Balance store that has 100's of shoes showing and they only had the 901's in a size that would fit (9 1/2 2E or maybe narrower). And they wanted more for the 901's then they were worth (even with discount). Sadly, I left the New Balance store. That is when my Ascis and Mizuno search started.

I liked my last pair of Mizuno Wave shoes and felt I should look at them again. Plus Mizuno here normally has very good pricing as I mentioned.

At Christmas I got a pair of Nike Zoom Katana Cage II. I like these shoes. I was not a Nike running shoe fan before, but these are nice racing shoes for me. I will mostly use these Nike's a week before a race and race day. I expect I will have these for two years and hit at least a half or full marathon with them this year.

My running has been going well. I get out every other day and run more time then actual distance. I typically make a 40 to 60 minute run depending on my speed and feeling for that day (long run would be 90 minutes 2 times a month). My races have been no more than 10K. I figured I should be running longer than a year before attempting a half or full marathon. Started running again in July 2006.

Now I have a bug to complete a triathlon. I always wanted to do one, even when I was in high school and in better shape. But I just never stepped up to the plate. I am thinking this year or early next year I will try a triathlon. I will be fine on the biking and running, but I must admit I am a bit scared of the swimming. I have only swam once when I was a kid a long distance (Tommy Olberding, do you remember swimming across the river in Wisconsin?). Luckily, my wife and a co-worker have some swimming experience, so I can get some tips and help. All I need to do is 1.5K in less than 50 minutes. I know to complete this event I would need a good 4 months in the pool so that I can build up my swimming. If I can make the swimming portion I can push my way through the biking (40K) and running (10K).

So, now I need to think about marathon and triathlon. Do both or just one? It would be the first for me either way? Maybe do both in the next year and a half?

UPS using Postal Service - and Chicken Shots

FUNNY stuff that UPS is using Postal Service music in their new ads. SWEET. .....

Now to try these New Cheetos Popcorn Chicken Shots. Opening package. Taste like Cheetos with a horrible aftertaste. Not the worst $0.29 I have ever spent, but the last 29 cents I spend on Chicken Shots. The smell of the opened package is beginning to whiff around - not a pleasant smell. Co-workers are now looking with strange looks. Better shoot these down and toss the bag. Gonna need a strong coffee to get rid of this Cheeto Popcorn Chicken Shots...... later

Pennies and Dollars

Get rid of the pennies. Use dollar coins. Get used to the $2 bill.

Nike 5K Taipei - hit my desired time

Shot for 18:00 minutes: Completed the Nike 5K in 17:48. Ran in my new Nike Air Zoom Katana Cage 2 shoes. They seem like a nice racing shoe, but not sure how they will hold up in everyday running conditions. I've been breaking them in for about one month (run every other day).

I will say trying to find a good Nike running shoe is very difficult. It is as if Nike does not want you to use their product. They don't list all their shoes on the web. They don't seem to let many online stores sell their product (plus see a review). They have shoes at the stores that you can not find online. And it seems most of their running shoes are actually street shoes and not really running shoes. However, the Nike Bowerman series seem to be pretty good shoes. At least the ones I've seen and put on my feet. Just try finding info about them..... even very little at the Nike shop. I can fully understand why seasoned runners don't look to Nike. Unless you just need a racing flat.

A Nike Christmas

Merry Christmas from Taipei (otherwise known as Another Working Day). Went to church, Santa came, wrapping paper flying, my son unwrapped all the gifts in a delicate way at first before he turned into the human whirlwind. So, all in all our little family had a cute and fun Christmas. Must say my wife is a great on incorporating American culture in our house.

Thanks to our friend Mandy we were able to get a very handsome discount from the local Nike store. Our family is a poster board for Nike now. Everything from shoes to hats (head to toe) filled our wrapped presents.

Kate, a friend of ours, painted a wonderful picture depicting her view of Mr. Wing (by Jimi).

Of course Christmas would not be complete without talking to the family. Did miss my sisters and their families, but chit-chat'ed with mom and dad.

Taipei ING Marathon - my unofficial time

I did not run the marathon or half marathon. I ran the 9K. My un-official time was 44:17. It turns out I was supposed to pick up my number and time chip the day before. I paid for the event 2 months before, but since I do not read Chinese I missed the point of picking up my event package. My wife (being Taiwanese) also read the information, but missed the point as well. So my time is based on my start and stopping of my stop watch.

It was a crowded race and the first 3k was more of a walk/jog than a run. They say some 111,000 people were registered for the race. I just know the line of people extended some 8K. I was finishing the race and people were still starting.

Update (Jan 1, 2007) My unofficial time put me in around the 576 runner over the finish line out of 8,622 official participants (my class rank about 56 of 736).

QUICK FACT: The ING Taipei marathon is the only city marathon in the world that attracts more than 100,000 runners.

Breast Feeding in the USA

I just read another article about people being offended by breast feeding. This time the family was ejected from their air-flight.

To be honest I do not understand why there is a group of people that find breast feeding offensive. Or why some people want it banned in any place out side one's home. I could at least understand if some person was feeding their 4 or 5 year old this way. But I believe most women breast feed infants (typically stopping at 1 1/2 years of age at the latest).

Age aside. Let the kid eat. You don't have to stare or watch the breast feeding. You don't need to feel uncomfortable, because, well, you are not doing it.

I only see these stories in the USA, maybe others country societies have issues as well, but they keep it to themselves. Seems to me the USA is loosing its step and the "me-me" attitude is just getting worse. It is no longer the good for society - it is what is good to me the individual.

Zune Marketplace

Been following the Zune. Went to the site today, but it provides me little to no information about its Marketplace. I was curious on the Marketplace setup. I read that some press people liked its interface. However, I see you need to purchase a Zune to enter the Marketplace. Guess I will not be seeing it.

I'm not quite sure I understand Microsofts idea on the Zune. I have a Sandisk e200 and love it. It is small, easy to use and not so expensive. Zune (and iPod) is the opposite. Plus with Zune working with its own proprietary music system seems very strange. Just not sold on Zune's idea. I think the sharing feature is neat to talk about, but it is too limited for me. I see good promotional tools being developed for it, but I think the marketers will ruin it and start seeding partial songs for advertising. And the next thing you know you have a bunch of files on your unit you don't need.

I think this proprietary music is making music more difficult to discover. Maybe it is because I was raised on records, CD and tapes that was shared to a larger audience. The new players are so personal people don't much bother to ask what you are listening to. Maybe the Zune will open sharing a bit, but they need to open their format to allow it to be heard.

Terry Fox Run Taipei 2006

A running bug as caught me. I have kept my schedule of running every other day. So, I ran at the Samsung 3K Fun Run (October) and completed it in some 10 minutes. The Samsung race was crazy crowded. The Terry Fox run was not so crowded (most likely due to people being asked to donate money), but there were a good number of people and the organization raised A LOT of money. I ran the 6K in 18:52.

I must say I don't have an issue with the length of runs and look forward to the 9K ING run in December. My main issue is having the extra "umph" needed to push that extra energy. I have it in the evening when I run, but having it at 7:00am is a whole different thing. I can do without the 5:00am alarm going off on a Sunday.

I must say that after the Terry Fox run I am a bit disappointed in myself not signing up for the ING half marathon. I feel the 9K for me may be a rushed race. I think I would be better suited for the longer haul at this time.

I never really wanted to do a marathon, but I see one coming on this year.

Running Taipei

Looking for a good running store in Taipei area. Most people point you to the department stores, but I'd like to go to a store run by runners. Like to buy shoes and equipment for my wife and I.

If you know of a good store let me know.

Dubai Business Trip 2006

I will travel to Dubai for Gitex IT Show in November 2006. Hope to get a Sundowner (Arabian Adventure) in while I'm there to see more than a show floor. Will stay in the Deira area and taxi it over to the Hall. Any tips or restaurant to visit would be welcomed. I am going to be a budget traveler on this one so no fancy restaurants (sob sob sob) and heavy shopping.

I looked on the web for Dubai info, but fond it hard to navigate and find interesting things. I will head over to PageOne (book store) and look for a Lonely Planet or like book to help me out a bit. From what I have heard it appears I'm walking into the Las Vegas of the Middle East.

Samsung Fun Run 3K 2006

A few months ago I finally had it with my weight. When suddenly I could not fit into clothes I had purchased only 1 month ago. Age and non-exercise caught up with me. My Taiwan doctor even told me a year ago I was obese (weighing in at 170lbs on my 5’10” frame). Not sure of my weight and health now, but I fit in to all my clothes and I’m on my tightest belt loop size (3 hole jumps).

I began running due to my health and partly due to my watching too many movies. I must admit the Couch to 5K program is absolutely wonderful. I would suggest anyone to follow it. I followed it to a tee, but migrated a few times from it due to a painful knee. I have gone every other day for the past 5-6 months. Knee is still painful, but I get though it. It will normally numb after 10 minutes of running. – Yes it is not the best way for it to heal – I'll go get some better motion control shoes.

October in Taipei offers me a 3K (Samsung Fun Run)
November offers me a 6K (Terry Fox Charity Run-cancer)
December offers me a 9K (ING Marathon- not marathon crazy stick with 9K)

I ran cross country in high school so I have a competitive spirit for the run. I just need to realize that I’m older with a hurt knee and I’m not out to beat anyone or set records. However, I’m nervous about a simple 3K run. I am nervous because I want to do my best and I don’t want to find excuses if I’m “sucking air” at the end of the run. It is so silly to feel this way – makes me feel like a kid again.

Bathroom Air Hand Dryer -I thought everyone had one

I just saw a news article on MSNBC or was it Google News? Anyway, they mentioned a new (bathroom) hand dryer by Dyson. I was very surprised at this news. I thought all bathrooms around the world used these hand dryers.
So I dug around a little and found out that these AWESOME hand dryers are not installed thoughout the world. I don't know anything about the Dyson version, but I love the Mitsubishi ones found here in Asia. If it was possible (financially) to have one installed in my house - I would have had one in my home bathroom a few years ago.

My young son was scared of them at first, because the air power is quite strong. But when drying your hands turned into a game you could not get him away from the unit. I actually like to keep my hands in it a bit longer myself. It is hard to resist something that feels like magic.
Product description from Technovelgy website: A "powerful gust measuring 90 meters per second" pushes the water down into a place where the excess moisture is captured. According to the manufacturer, it takes about 5 seconds to dry your hands, as opposed to the 30 seconds or more for conventional models.
Believe it or not, the first mention of using a blast of air to dry your hands is found in Coventry, a 1940 story by Robert Heinlein.

The new Dyson unit info (from Dyson on Google News edited): At almost $1,000 a pop when traditional hand blowers are available for around one fifth that cost? According to Dyson, it will save a business owner 80 percent on energy bills compared to the standard dryers, and 96 percent compared to buying paper towels.
The Airblade saves energy by using a new motor design that's capable of spinning at 120,000 rotations per minute, compared with normal electric motors in current dryers that crank at about half that. Also, because the unit doesn’t use evaporation, there’s no heat needed, which also cuts down on electricity.
Dyson launched into an anti-evaporation tirade. He accused the dryers we all know, which use heat and forced air to evaporate water from you hands, of creating a "cocktail of bacteria" on your flesh, which you then spread by touching the door handle on your way out. The Airblade, he said, avoids mixing such nasty cocktails in bar bathrooms by purifying air at the intake point with a HEPA filter, just like the one in fancy vacuums, and eliminating the need to rub your hands together, which apparently disturbs sleeping bacteria under your first layer of skin.
What about the water air-squeegeed from your hands? It is blown down into a small drain on the unit, and then goes through an iodine resin micro filter, which allegedly kills almost 100 percent of the bacteria draining down with it. Then, to eliminate the need for plumbing, the water drips onto a small gyrating plate that uses high frequency vibration to "atomize" it, and then expel it as a "harmless invisible mist."
Proof being in the pudding, I was eager to dip my hands in the fishbowl. The Airblade felt a lot like someone dragging two rubber window squeegees down the sides of my hands — but it worked. Some water did drip down the outside of the unit, but as Dyson’s chief microbiologist for the $18 million Airblade project told me, "you will lose a little, but it’s a lot better than the puddle of nasty water you get under a regular dryer."
All public restrooms — particularly those in bars — are occasionally made the workshop of graffiti artists and vandals, so I wondered how well such a technologically advanced piece of machinery would hold up to, say, someone grabbing hold of its tempting form and trying to pry it off the wall. As luck would have it, a couple of punk-rockers from the Soho streets had wandered into the Dyson press event and were bent on, as they tend to be, destruction and malevolence toward all things. They immediately targeted the unfamiliar units mounted on studio walls for journalist tryouts. I saw one of them pull, with all his strength, on an Airblade. He actually had to be pulled off the device and removed, along with his friend, from the event by Dyson staff. The Airblade, the exterior of which I then learned is constructed of 100 percent cast aluminum, did not bend or budge. According to Dyson’s General Manger of Communications, Mark Scanlon, the company hopes to make Airblades available to the U.S. market for testing by Yankee hand-washers and vandals alike, by the middle of 2007.

The longer I live in Asia the more I find out how behind the USA is in many advances and cool devices.

Taipei Car Free Day

Promotion for a Car (or scooter) Fee Day in Taipei was advertised well. Use public transportation or a peddle bike. The idea is 100% great, but now that I rode my bike -WHERE IN THE HELL CAN I PARK IT!!!!. Taipei government has taken away just about all bike (and scooter) parking areas. I was turned away at multiple parking lots (only cars and limited scooter access). So nice advertising and promotion for the Mayor, but for the rider that would like to make this a habit ---- lets rethink PARKING!!!!

Drunken Chinese Migrant Worker Pets Panda

You have to like a headline like this.

So this guy, Zhang Xinyan, drinks too much at a local watering hole and then meanders to the Beijing Zoo. Figures he should visit and see GuGu the Panda. He suddenly gets a sudden urge that he must pet GuGu. So he jumps into the enclosure to pet GuGu sleeping. And to the astonishment of Zhang Xinyan the panda bites his leg. He bites GuGu on the back and GuGu bites his other leg.

The report said a zookeeper got GuGu under control by spraying him with water. I think the zookeeper should have sprayed Zhang Xinyan to get him under control. How can the human race be so ignorant to captive/wild animals?

Well, I guess people can be ignorant about animals since Zhang Xinyan says: “No one ever said they would bite people. I just wanted to touch it." Maybe we should inform Zhang Xinyan that dogs, cats, mice, horses and other animals bite as well. Heck, even Zhang Xinyan bites.

WAKE UP PEOPLE and remember Friends Don't Let Friends Jump Into Panda Cages

Missing America - [click to enlarge]

Why Buy Pirated Goods?

Pirated good articles have been sprinkling the news for years. The movie and recording industry have brought it to light even more so. But pirated goods can be anything from industrial pipes to handbags. I guess just about anything that can turn a good profit will be pirated (counterfited).

But why do people buy them?
1) Try to look wealthy
2) Feel good having the lastest "in-thing"
3) Not having the money to buy the real item
4) Cheaper and looks the same
5) Give as a present
6) I believe most people would never buy the original item anyway- Be it music, movie or fashion item. If I can not get a bootleg copy of a movie that I would like to see, I just would not see it and view another instead.

Well, I'm sure there are better reasons then those, but how about music directly (since I like music and have a record label www.sinklub.com)
1) find out of print material
2) find live recordings
3) find (discover) artists you never heard of
4) like to hear that new CD you know you would never buy
5) throw away music

Pirated items normally have a bit of a "suck" quality to them. I have had watches, belts, CDs, DVDs and other pirated items. I can tell you none of them lasted long or played well. Original items are the best best, but there are times when the street price just wins due to the dockets in the pocket.